Fate Alchemist - A Regression Academy LitRPG

Now that Wulf had significantly less time in his days for the foreseeable future, his alchemy practice would have to take a step back.

Or at least, it would've had to for most people. Wulf wasn't about to take a multiple-week-long break.

When he returned from the bathhouse and went to his dorms for the night, he spent an hour reviewing his textbook. So he didn't wake Ján, he used his storage pendant. He lit a candle and stepped inside his lab pendant. With the opening facing away from Ján, only a sliver of light slipped through.

He continued on, flipping through a segment that described the different shapes of flasks and potion containers that would be best for different types of potions, but he wasn't in the mood to fire up his furnace and start glass-smithing, and he didn't exactly need the different types of flasks yet.

Plus, he doubted he'd remember all that, anyway. There was just so much to memorize, and he wasn't sure if he'd ever figure out what kind of potion every plant turned into.

But the following section was more interesting. It described arcane metals materials, their purposes in potions (as strengthening agents or for increasing potion effect longevity) and their other effects not in potions.

For example, quiversteel made excellent medical equipment because of how it induced flesh to regrow around it, or un-gold, which had the same look and properties of gold, unless it experienced a current of mana, at which point it became harder than diamonds and could cut through nearly anything.

Which, he had to say, didn't really feel like a chaotic alteration, but he supposed the magical properties were inherently more chaotic than just a regular gold ingot.

But what really caught his attention was yet another mention of Panne. The historical great alchemist had wielded a shepherd's hook that looked to everyone like it was made of primal material, but was likely actually made of xerion.

Xerion. It didn't elaborate, except to say that the material was beyond the realm of this book.

That didn't stop Wulf from wanting to know more.

The next day, during lunch, he returned to the library and re-loaned out his alchemy textbook, just so he didn't get in trouble. But then, he returned to the section he'd taken it from and hunted for any other alchemy books.

If there was more information on alchemy, it'd have to be there, right?

But this was a miscellaneous section, and it was sorted by author name, not by topic. He sighed, gave it a brief scan, and couldn't find any more alchemy books.

For a few seconds, he stood there, staring at the books, tapping his leg and pursing his lips, until the librarian walked over and asked, "Can I help you, Mr. Hrothen?"

Wulf chuckled. "You remember my name?"

"I remember many names, but especially those of students who loan out books for a long period of time."

Wulf couldn't decide if that was a threat or not, so he only shrugged. "I promise I'll return it when I'm done."

"I think it is wonderful that students take interest in topics outside their studies," the librarian said. She wore the same white robe that she usually did, though today, she'd tied her long hair up in a bun. "So many young students, especially Pilots, get so caught up in their studies that they forget to live a proper life. Broadening their horizons is the best way to show them that the world is about more than fighting and stone."

Wulf nodded. "I'm sorry, miss, but I don't think I caught your name before."

"You may call me Ms. Wenarle. I am not a professor by academy standards, though I have read a great many books and absorbed their knowledge."

"Ms. Wenarle, then…would you happen to know where I could find more books on alchemy? I'm specifically curious about something called xerion."

"I somewhat expected that," Ms. Wenarle said. "You may find a few more texts scattered about this section, but they are few and far between. If you would like, I can identify and locate them for you." She raised her arm, where she wore a bracer with a slip of enchanted parchment pinned to its top. "However, much like that book, they will be a basic overview. You may only find passing mentions of what you seek."

"Have you heard of xerion?"

"I can index it in the library codex," she said. She furrowed her brows in concentration, while looking directly at her arm. Wulf saw the ink shift, but he was too far away, and at too awkward of an angle to read it.

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"As a benefit of the Librarian Class," Ms. Wenarle said, "I can look through the entirety of the library, and any books whose words register with the Field will appear, along with the volume they were written in."

"Helpful," Wulf commented.

"Indeed. Though I'll admit, yours is an unusual request. Usually, students are requesting books on certain monsters or dragon types, or mana formations—the like."

"Sorry," Wulf said. "If you could direct me to where the more complex alchemy texts are, I might—"

"Ah, I have it," she said, then offered a kind smile. "Xerion. You'll find it mentioned in a few elven crafting texts on the fifth level. There is a slight problem, however."

"Problem?" Wulf tilted his head. "Do I need to return my other book first?"

"No, no." She sighed. "Those books are in the restricted section—any with more than a passing mention of xerion. You must be a fourth year to access them, as the Academy believes the concepts to be too powerful for lower ranks to handle."

Wulf let out a soft growl. The Academy thought they could dictate what he could read and what he couldn't, under the guise of being for his own good?

"How does the Academy prevent people from reading them?" he asked.

"Me." Ms. Wenarle said. "I am not allowed to let a first year check them out, and if you steal a book, I will know. The faculty will take action."

Wulf sighed. "Is there—"

Ms. Wenarle tutted. "I wasn't finished. We may be able to make an arrangement. I would hate to see a young man's extracurricular interests get stifled by the Academy's dogma, but I must know that you truly want this before I break the rules for you."

"Would this…codex thing even let you sign a fourth year book out in my name?"

"No, it would not," Ms. Wenarle said. "Which is why you are going to modify the codex."

Wulf raised his eyebrows.

"Cleaning, of course. You will help me clean the codex chamber in the coming weeks, and we may clean a few of the Field-nodes a little too—vigourously, if you will. Such that the restriction data for a few nodes is wiped clean."

Wulf smiled. "Ma'am, thank you. But…it may have to be pretty late at night. I've got a whole bunch of other chores to fulfill."

"Oh, yes, I am aware, dear. I have heard your name plenty during our faculty meetings. You have quite the reputation now, which is why I can almost guarantee that I am doing the correct thing. You are destined for greatness, Mr. Hrothen, so long as you stay on this path and keep working as you have been." She flicked her sheet of parchment, and the ink diffused away. "Meet me here tonight once you have fulfilled all of your other engagements, and I will show you the library codex."

~ ~ ~

After helping Chef Kennet until sunset, then aiding the janitors and cleaning himself up in the fresh bathhouse, Wulf and Kalee walked back across the campus.

He was about to split paths with her and turn toward the library when she said, "Wulf?"

"Yes?" He tilted his head and slowed down. He hadn't exactly been walking quickly, and they hadn't really been talking—too tired for good conversation, anyway.

"There's going to be a celebration in Arotelk this coming Seventhday."

"Celebration?"

"Better than a mourning vigil like last time, isn't it?" Kalee asked.

"Well, yes, but…" Wulf swallowed. "There were probably still a lot of people who died. And they don't know what would've happened without us. There's no frame of reference. I thought it just sounded odd."

"Their frame of reference is the rest of the world," she said. "By now, you must've seen the reports."

"I've been keeping my eyes off them. Didn't really need a reminder of what we were fighting."

"So far, the letter bearers have reported thirty separate demon spheres crashing to the surface," Kalee said. "Most of them have been dealt with now, but everyone knows it's just the first wave. Still, the damage to other cities was much, much worse than it was here."

"We can still do more," Wulf said.

"Next time, we will do more."

"Yeah…" Wulf sighed. "So…are you saying something?"

"Yeah?"

"Sorry. No, like…it felt like you were going somewhere with that."

They stopped walking altogether, and Kalee turned to face him. "Were you interested in going? I'm sure Irmond and Seith will be going, too."

"I hadn't thought about it." He looked down. "You know, I was probably going to avoid big crowds and public engagements for the time being." He kicked the dirt at the edge of the path with his boot. A little bit of snow had started to sprinkle down, but the ground hadn't hardened just yet.

"Why not? I saw you out in the tavern when Prince Eèras had his little party. You're obviously not afraid of that sort of thing."

He chuckled. "Just because I did it doesn't mean I'm not afraid of it."

"Fair point, but…"

"Alright, I'll come." He crossed his arms. He was supposed to be getting out and seeing the world, too, but since the demon attack, something felt slightly different. Just slightly off. He hadn't spoken with Irmond much on their runs, and now, he wasn't even finding many points of conversation to make with Kalee, even though there were so many memories he wanted to compare and questions to ask.

"Wulf, are you alright?"

"Just tired, that's all," he said.

I'm tired. Just tired.

That was what he thought before he met the Messenger, too. Before it—Mantri—sent him back.

That was what led him to his regret in the first place. A life not lived fully.

But this time, he couldn't explain it.

"I'll come," he repeated. "But first, I have a deal with the librarian."

"Hm? Wulf, don't stay up too late," Kalee complained.

"Ah, it's no worry. I'm used to it." He forced a grin, then turned back. "Besides, it's about alchemy. It's something I want to do."